Audi’s smallest and most affordable SUV is getting a major makeover for 2026, introducing updated styling, new technology, and one especially radical interior feature that may challenge how drivers interact with their vehicles. Though initially announced for the European market, the redesigned Q3 is expected to arrive in the United States next year with select regional modifications.
The redesign aligns with Audi’s ongoing efforts to bring cohesive styling across its lineup. The 2026 Q3 adopts the sharp, muscular lines of its larger siblings, the Q5 and Q6 E-Tron, with signature split lighting and pronounced shoulder creases giving the compact crossover a more assertive stance. While dimensionally it’s only slightly larger than the outgoing model—gaining 1.8 inches in length and a fraction in width and height—it looks significantly more substantial due to its new proportions and sculpted design.
Inside, Audi continues its minimalist philosophy, equipping the Q3 with an 11.9-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.8-inch touchscreen infotainment display. These displays enhance the cabin’s modern feel and aim to elevate the user experience through crisp visuals and streamlined control layouts.
But what truly sets the 2026 Q3 apart isn’t its screens, materials, or hybrid promise—it’s what’s missing behind the steering wheel. Traditional stalks for shifting, wipers, and turn signals have been completely replaced with a new fixed-wing control system mounted behind the steering wheel. These immobile “wings” incorporate a range of buttons and knobs to manage gear selection, lighting, and wipers. While the wing ends can tilt slightly to simulate the function of signal stalks and shifters, their overall design breaks from decades of convention in automotive ergonomics.
On the powertrain front, European models will offer a variety of engines, including a mild-hybrid 1.5-liter turbo four, a more potent 2.0-liter turbo four, a diesel (not for the U.S.), and a new plug-in hybrid boasting up to 75 miles of EV range on Europe’s WLTP cycle. However, these options won’t be available in the U.S. market—at least not yet. Americans are expected to receive an updated version of the current 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, likely paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and available Quattro all-wheel drive. A PHEV version for North America has not been confirmed, but it would likely appeal to buyers seeking efficiency and flexibility.
Though Audi hasn’t detailed pricing or exact U.S. specs, the 2026 Q3 is expected to go on sale sometime next year. The new model positions itself to compete fiercely with the BMW X1, Mercedes-Benz GLA, and Volvo XC40—not just through styling and tech, but with a unique approach to driving controls that may spark debate.
Whether Audi’s radical shift in control design becomes a game-changing innovation or a misstep will depend on how drivers respond. But one thing is clear: with this Q3, Audi isn’t afraid to rethink the basics.
